Nonrefillable bottle

ABSTRACT

A one-way ball valve assembly is disposed in a tapered neck section of a bottle. The valve is adapted to seal the neck section when the bottle is positioned upright. When inverted, the tapered neck section allows the ball valve to become free from engagement with the neck section thereby allowing passage of material therethrough. A spacer member is positioned between the ball valve and a projecting edge of the neck section to prevent the valve from occluding the outlet of the neck section when the container is inverted. The spacer member incorporates a groove which interlocks with the projecting edge thereby preventing removal of the spacer member and the ball valve from the bottle.

United States Patent Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorneys-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT: A one-way ball valve assembly is disposed in a tapered neck section of a bottle. The valve is adapted to seal the neck section when the bottle is positioned upright. When inverted, the tapered neck section allows the ball valve to become free from engagement with the neck section thereby allowing passage of material therethrough. A spacer member is positioned between the ball valve and a projecting edge of the neck section to prevent the valve from occluding the outlet of the neck section when the container is inverted. The spacer member incorporates a groove which interlocks with the projecting edge thereby preventing removal of the spacer member and the ball valve from the bottle.

[72] Inventor William De Simone 851 Broadway, Everett, Mass. 02149 [21] Appl. No. 887,981 [22] Filed Dec. 24, 1969 [45] Patented Jan.4,l972

[54] NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C1 215/21, 215/26 [51] lnt.Cl 865d 49/02 [50] Field of Search 215/21,22, 23, 26, 18

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 875,937 1/1908 Lesser 215/26 759,347 5/1904 Christensen 215/21 NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE The present invention relates to a one-way valve and more particularly to a one-way valve assembly utilized in a bottle container making the latter impossible to refill.

With many bottled commodities it is desirable to insure against refilling with a substitute product which is represented to the consuming public as a name-brand product. Attempts have been made to include one-way or check valves in the bottles thereby preventing the refilling thereof. However, prior art valves have been found to be removable from the bottle thereby destroying their utility.

The present invention is directed to a valve assembly for insertion in a container, such as a bottle, which prevents the refilling thereof and further prevents removal thereby insuring that only the original contents are dispensed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway view illustrating the components of the present valve assembly in relation to an enclosing bottle.

FIG. 2 is an expanded sectional view of the components illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the spacer member employed in the valve assembly of the present invention.

Referring to the figures and more particularly to FIG. I, the present valve assembly utilized in a container is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Although the valve assembly has wide use in different types of containers, for convenience the invention will be explained in the environment of a bottle 12. The bottle includes the usual main section 14 which appends upwardly to an outwardly tapering frustoconical neck section 16 which in turn appends upwardly to a cylindrical hollow spout or head section 18 having threads 20 thereon to allow a threaded cap (not shown) to close the bottle.

Referring to FIG. 2, the valve assembly is seen to include a ball 22 normally abutting against the interior surface of the neck section 16 thereby closing off the neck section when the bottle is maintained in normal upright position. The taper section design allows clearance between the neck section wall and the ball 22 when the container is inverted thereby allowing container contents to flow past the ball 22 and then out through the head section 18.

A concealed cagelike spacer member, generally indicated by the numeral 24, sits atop the ball 22 and is enclosed within the upper portion of neck section 16. A primary function of the spacer member 24 is to prevent ball 22 from occluding the upper outlet of the neck section 16 when the bottle 14 is inverted. As will be explained hereinafter, the spacer member is also especially constructed to prevent the removal of it as well as ball 22.

Referring to FIG. 3, the construction of the spacer member 24 is seen to include a disclike base 26 having a cylindrical abutment element 28 appending to a second cylindrical element 30 which serves to attach the lower end of vertical circumferentially spaced legs or strips 32 as seen in FIG. 2, the upper ends of the strips 32 are integrally attached to a top section 34 of the spacer member. Two integral but yieldingly attached circumferential spaced-parallel ribs or flange 36 extend from the top section 34, an annular groove 38 being defined between the ribs 36. The purpose of these spaced ribs is to allow the spacer member material to give when forcibly inserted into the neck section 16 during the valve assembly assembling step. The upper surface of the top section is provided with an annular recess or groove 40 which performs a keying function if and when the spacer member 24 is forcibly displaced against the inclined surface or end thrust abutment 42 (FIG. 2) at the outlet of the neck section 16. By virtue of this keying or interlocking engagement between the spacer member and the neck section 16, it is difficult, virtually impossible, to remove the spacer member 24 from the neck section.

Thus, the present invention allows free dispensing of material within bottle 14 when the latter is inverted for pouring. However, ball 22 seals the neck section 16 thereby preventing refilling of the bottle at any time. The spacer member is constructed in a manner preventing removal of itself or the ball 22 so that one is assured that only the original contents of the bottle are contained therein.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A one-way valve assembly in combination with a container having an exit port, said assembly comprising closing means preventing communication between the central container interior and the port when the container assumes a first position, communication occurring when the container assumes a second position, spacer means interposed between the port and the closing means for preventing occluding displacement of the closing means against the port thereby allowing material to exit freely through the port when the second container position is assumed, said closing means comprising a ball disposed in a tapered neck section of the container, the ball abuttingly sealing the tapered section when the container assumes the first position, the ball passing freely from the tapered section when the container assumes the second position, said spacer means including an abutment element for contacting the ball, a slotted intermediate section appending from the abutment element for allowing material passage therethrough, and a keying section appending from the intermediate section for engaging an outlet end of the neck section when an attempt is made to remove the spacer means from the container thereby preventing removal of the spacer means the ball, the outlet end of the neck section including a projecting edge for engaging a mating groove in the keying section.

2. The structure defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said spacer is of one-piece construction, said abutment element comprising a disclike base.

3. The structure defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said spacer embodies a top section, said top section having circumferential ribs which are spaced apart and define an annular groove, said ribs being yieldable when forcibly inserted into said neck section.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the neck section appends outwardly to a hollowed head section which serves as a spout for the container.

5. A nonrefillable bottle comprising a liquid containing main section and a communicating neck section extending from said main section and including a normally closed but openable valve seating passage, a gravity operated ball check valve normally lodged in said passage, a valve seat in said passage at the juncture of said main and neck sections whereby the ball valve engages the valve seat when the bottle is positioned with the neck section disposed upwardly relative to the main section, a valve spacing retainer movably fitted in the passage above and in alignment with said valve member, said retainer having means on its upper end portion engageable with the neck section, said retainer also including means at its lower end engageable with said ball valve member, said neck section of the bottle including limit stop abutment means spaced from the upper end of retainer when the neck section is disposed upwardly from the main section whereby said limit stop means will limit outward movement of the retainer and the complemental ball valve when the bottle is tilted to pour liquid therefrom or an attempt is made to remove the ball valve by the means on the upper end portion of the retainer engaging the limit stop means.

6. The nonrefillable bottle defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein the upper end portion of said valve spacing retainer embodies a marginal edge having a pair of outstanding yieldable flangelike ribs, said ribs being spaced apart and defining an annular groove.

7. The nonrefillable bottle defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein said valve spacing retainer is cagelike and of one piece construction, the means at the lower end comprising a disclike base.

u a n: 1: m 5 

1. A one-way valve assembly in combination with a container having an exit port, said assembly comprising closing means preventing communication between the central container interior and the port when the container assumes a first position, communication occurring when the container assumes a second position, spacer means interposed between the port and the closing means for preventing occluding displacement of the closing means against the port thereby allowing material to exit freely through the port when the second container position is assumed, said closing means comprising a ball disposed in a tapered neck section of the container, the ball abuttingly sealing the tapered section when the container assumes the first position, the ball passing freely from the tapered section when the container assumes the second position, said spacer means including an abutment element for contacting the ball, a slotted intermediate section appending from the abutment element for allowing material passage therethrough, and a keying section appending from the intermediate section for engaging an outlet end of the neck section when an attempt is made to remove the spacer means from the container thereby preventing removal of the spacer means and the ball, the outlet end of the neck section including a projecting edge for engaging a mating groove in the keying section.
 2. The structure defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said spacer is of one-piece construction, said abutment element comprising a disclike base.
 3. The structure defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said spacer embodies a top section, said top section having circumferential ribs which are spaced apart and define an annular groove, said ribs being yIeldable when forcibly inserted into said neck section.
 4. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein the neck section appends outwardly to a hollowed head section which serves as a spout for the container.
 5. A nonrefillable bottle comprising a liquid containing main section and a communicating neck section extending from said main section and including a normally closed but openable valve seating passage, a gravity operated ball check valve normally lodged in said passage, a valve seat in said passage at the juncture of said main and neck sections whereby the ball valve engages the valve seat when the bottle is positioned with the neck section disposed upwardly relative to the main section, a valve spacing retainer movably fitted in the passage above and in alignment with said valve member, said retainer having means on its upper end portion engageable with the neck section, said retainer also including means at its lower end engageable with said ball valve member, said neck section of the bottle including limit stop abutment means spaced from the upper end of retainer when the neck section is disposed upwardly from the main section whereby said limit stop means will limit outward movement of the retainer and the complemental ball valve when the bottle is tilted to pour liquid therefrom or an attempt is made to remove the ball valve by the means on the upper end portion of the retainer engaging the limit stop means.
 6. The nonrefillable bottle defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein the upper end portion of said valve spacing retainer embodies a marginal edge having a pair of outstanding yieldable flangelike ribs, said ribs being spaced apart and defining an annular groove.
 7. The nonrefillable bottle defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein said valve spacing retainer is cagelike and of one piece construction, the means at the lower end comprising a disclike base. 